Chickadee

About the Book

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Chickadee is the first novel of a new arc in the critically acclaimed Birchbark House series by New York Times bestselling author Louise Erdrich.

Twin brothers Chickadee and Makoons have done everything together since they were born—until the unthinkable happens and the brothers are separated.

Desperate to reunite, both Chickadee and his family must travel across new territories, forge unlikely friendships, and experience both unexpected moments of unbearable heartache as well as pure happiness. And through it all, Chickadee has the strength of his namesake, the chickadee, to carry him on.

Chickadee continues the story of one Ojibwe family's journey through one hundred years in America. School Library Journal, in a starred review, proclaimed, "Readers will be more than happy to welcome little Chickadee into their hearts."

The paperback edition includes additional material, such as an interview with the author and activities.

Book Description

Twin brothers Chickadee and Makoons have spent every day side by side and have done everything together since they were born—until the day the unthinkable happens and the brothers are separated.

Desperate to reunite, Chickadee and his family must travel across new territories, forge unlikely friendships, and experience both unexpected moments of unbearable heartache as well as pure happiness. And through it all, Chickadee has the strength of his namesake, the chickadee, to carry him on.

I am only the ChickadeeYet small things have great powerI speak the truth.

Launching a new arc in the celebrated Birchbark House series, Chickadee continues the story of one Ojibwe family's journey through one hundred years in America.

Educator and Librarian Resources

Critical Praise

PRAISE FOR CHICKADEE:“A beautifully evolving story of an indigenous American family. ” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Erdrich’s storytelling is masterful. Readers will be more than happy to welcome little Chickadee into their hearts.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

“Readers will absorb the history lesson almost by osmosis; their full attention will be riveted on the story. Every detail anticipates readers’ interest.” —The Horn Book

“In the fourth book in Erdrich’s award-winning Birchbark House series, the focus moves to a new generation. As always, the focus is on the way-of-life details as much as the adventure. Most affecting are the descriptions of Makoons’ loneliness without his brother.” —ALA Booklist

“The pleasures of reading the series are not unlike those of reading Laura Ingalls Wilder: Discovering an earlier time in our country through stories of the daily lives of children.” —Newsday.com

GLOWING PRAISE FOR THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE SERIES:“Based on Erdrich’s own family history, the mischievous celebration will move readers, and so will the anger and sadness. What is left unspoken is as powerful as the story told.” —Booklist (starred review)

“[A] lyrical narrative. Readers will want to follow this family for many seasons to come.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Readers who loved Omakayas and her family in The Birchbark House (1999) have ample reason to rejoice in this beautifully contstructed sequel … Hard not to hope for what comes next for this radiant nine-year old.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Erdrich’s gifts are many, and she has given readers another tale full of rich details of 1850’s Ojibwe life, complicated supporting characters, and all the joys and challenges of a girl becoming a woman.” —Horn Book (starred review)

Why has no one written this story before? —ALA Booklist (boxed review)

“The Birchbark House establishes its own ground, in the vicinity of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books.” —New York Times Book Review

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